|
14 January 2011
Many may view the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. solely through
the lens of civil rights. For the two of us, the centerpiece of his message
is the power of service and volunteering to heal racial wounds and lead America
into a new era of shared responsibility and equal opportunity. Much of Dr. King’s
service message can be summed up in one of his most famous sayings: “Life’s
most persistent and urgent question is what are you doing for others.”
For a quarter of a century, the nation has set aside a day to honor one of the
great heroes of American history. In recent years, the holiday has been designated
as a Day of Service -- “a day on, not a day off” -- to honor Dr. King’s fundamental
commitment to engaging people of all races and walks of life in service to our
nation and our world.
Nowhere is Dr. King’s persistent and urgent question more fully pursued and
realized than in the two agencies we lead; the Peace Corps and the Corporation
for National and Community Service. Fifty years ago, Senator John F. Kennedy
posed Dr. King’s question to an audience of 5,000 students on the steps of the
University of Michigan with a challenge that they serve people in need around
the world.
The eager response of those willing students ignited one of the signature service
movements of our times. Since 1961, more than 200,000 Americans have volunteered
through the Peace Corps to fight poverty, disease, illiteracy, and a host of
other challenges in 139 countries around the world. President Kennedy’s vision
of an army of domestic anti-poverty volunteers was realized in 1965 with the
creation of VISTA .
In 1993, millions more Americans were given the chance to serve with the creation
of AmeriCorps and the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS).
Each year, CNCS engages more than five million Americans in “getting things
done” through its AmeriCorps, Senior Corps, and Learn and Serve programs. Our
service members, who represent all races, ages and walks of life, stand shoulder
to shoulder with communities across the country; feeding the hungry, helping
struggling students in our schools, responding to natural disasters, and serving
in many other ways.
Dr. King understood that working together in common purpose was essential to
building what he called “the beloved community.” The desire of Americans to
bridge divisions in order to lend a helping hand has always been bigger than
politics. In 2009, in a spirit of bi-partisanship, rarely seen these days in
Washington, it took Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Senator Edward M. Kennedy
(D-MA), working with leaders in the House, just weeks to introduce, debate,
rally the votes, and pass the Serve America Act -- the most sweeping expansion
of national service in a generation.
Like Dr. King, these visionary leaders understood that as a nation, we are strongest,
we are more united, and we are at our best when we do for others. Our own service
work has taught us that doing for others is also a powerful way to do for yourself.
We both grew up at a time when leadership opportunities for African American
men, both in and out of government, were just beginning to open up. Inspired
by the sacrifices of Dr. King and others, we chose the path of public service.
That path has taken us from volunteering in poor villages abroad and homeless
shelters here at home to leading America ’s service agencies at a time of great
need for grassroots hope among communities worldwide.
Today, we are pleased to announce that the Peace Corps and CNCS are partnering
to bring the rewards of service to more people and communities – especially
to those who may not have had that chance before. It is our privilege to be
inspired by the Americans who make a commitment to service opportunities that
have led them to a better life and opened new doors of opportunity.
On this 25th anniversary of the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday, with so many
problems facing our nation, we say to all Americans – if you have not already
made service a part of your daily lives, get started today. And don’t just do
it for one day. Make it a lifetime commitment. Dr. King changed the course of
history armed only with the power of his ideals and grassroots citizen support.
His life of service reminds us that the everyday acts of ordinary citizens make
this country extraordinary.
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
